At San Sebastian Winery in St. Augustine, wines are made on property, where there’s also a tasting room and wine shop -- and a rooftop bar.

- Golden Pixels, San Sebastian Winery

For a tropical treat, visit Florida Orange Groves Winery, located in St. Petersburg. It produces Florida's only ultra-premium tropical, citrus and berry wines – and you’re invited to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Raise your Glass:
Florida Wineries, Tours and Tastings

By Lauren Tjaden

Florida and wine: it’s a love affair, one that began many years ago.

St. Augustine, set against Florida’s northeast coast, is heralded as the birthplace of American wine, producing since about 1565. Likewise, the first wine grapes in the United States were grown in the Sunshine State by Spanish missionaries in the 16th century -- because what’s a religious ceremony without sacramental wine?

Since then, the relationship has aged, matured, and gotten better.

Sunshine State wine is not only delicious but different too, because Florida’s winemakers often favor the Muscadine grape or other native grapes that stand up to Florida’s heat and humidity better than traditional wine grapes like Chardonnay or Merlot. Florida makes wines from tropical fruits, too.

Today, all around the state, you can discover winery tours, wine tasting, and unique events.

Berry delicious

For a tropical treat, visit Florida Orange Groves Winery, located in St. Petersburg. It produces Florida's only ultra-premium tropical, citrus and berry wines – and you’re invited to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Mango Mamma is one of their award-winning wines, and it’s easy to see why. It’s exotic, crisp, and intense, leaving you with a long, juicy mango finish. But you have a lot of luscious choices, 43 different varieties to be exact.

Step on it

Looking for a unique event? You won’t want to miss the Annual Harvest Grape Stomp at Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards. Your whole gang can ditch their shoes, climb in a barrel and join in this age-old tradition. The Winery, encompassed by graceful, 127-acre estate located west of Orlando in Clermont, holds bragging rights as Florida's largest premium winery.

Savor the scenery

St. Augustine is home to San Sebastian Winery, a premium winery noted for pioneering the development of premium, sparkling and dessert wines from Muscadine grapes. Its wines have won well over 700 awards at last count, and the Winery provides the perfect place to sample them.The Cellar Upstairs Wine and Jazz & Blues Bar features eclectic live music, an open-air deck with great views, appetizers, imported and domestic beers, and of course, a wide selection of San Sebastian Wine.

But wait, there’s more…

Think of these offerings as just the first sip of a delightful glass of wine. Florida has more than 35 wineries, listed below by region. Go explore. And enjoy.